Reduce the amount of stress you are under, stop drinking milk,

but do drink lots of water or nourishing fluids. An herb tea with

some lemon and honey is helpful.

A humidifier in the room can keep the air moist.

Avoid nasal decongestants, nose drops, etc. In the long run, they
will cause you more trouble than they are worth.
ENCOURAGEMENTIf you can exert a saving influence over one soul,
remember there is joy in heaven over the one that repents. You may, by careful
effort, be the means of bringing back the lost sheep into the fold of Jesus. It is
wonderful to work with the angels.

CROUP1

SYMPTOMSThe larynx (vocal cords) or trachea (windpipe) narrows because

infection causes the walls to swell inward. There is difficulty in breathing;
hoarseness; tightness in the lungs; a harsh, barking cough; and even a feeling of
suffocation. Because their air pipes are smaller, croup most often occurs in
children.
The special symptom of croup is a harsh, wheezing noise as air is breathed in
through the narrowed windpipe and past the inflamed vocal cords, often
accompanied by fits of coughing.
CAUSESCroup can be caused by bacteria or viruses. When caused by a
bacteria, croup generally follows a cold or another mild respiratory infection.
But when it is caused by a virus (as happens more often, especially in boys),
more serious conditions, such as the flu, have occurred.
Croup most often occurs during the winter months, and most frequently affects
children from 3 months to 3 years (9 to 18 months is the peak).
TREATMENT
Maintain a good water intake, to help loosen secretions. Only
drink lukewarm water. If the child is told to drink a glass of water
after each coughing attack, the coughs will stop after the third or
fourth glass. Water is the best cough medicine.
Use a vaporizer or humidifier at night, or put a pan of water or
tea kettle on a hot plate. This will help keep the air moist for the
child through the night.

 Try to have someone stay with the child. If he is too anxious, you
may find it best to hold him for a time. This will reassure him.
Avoid sudden temperature changes. Keep the child warm, but
avoid overheating.
During the day, you might wish to put a few drops of eucalyptus
oil in a vaporizer; and, for a time, have him inhale the vapor.
Echinacea, fenugreek, goldenseal, and thyme are helpful herbs.
Homemade soups and broths are good for the child.
Fomentations to the neck and upper chest region bring relief.
After the acute phase, a heating compress may be applied to the
chest.
You can apply hot onion packs over the chest and back 3 times a
day. Place sliced onions between cloths, and cover with a heating
pad.
Steroids and antibiotics are useless if this is a viral sickness. Do
not use cough medicines and other colds preparations, for they
tend to thicken the secretions (anti-congestants are always drying
agents) and make it still harder to clear the throat.
When croup keeps reoccurring, the cause may well be that the
child is allergic to some type of food. Try to ascertain what it
might be (see Allergies).
Also see "Croup2."
ENCOURAGEMENTWhen we accept Christ, we are adopted into His
family. We have a nearness to Him, and can hold sweet communion with Him.
We learn what He is like, and we become changed into His likeness.

CROUP2 (J.H. Kellogg, M.D., Formulas)

(1) ACUTE CATARRH OF LARYNX

GENERAL TREATMENTHot Bath with Cold Compress to head; hot water

drinking; Cold Mitten Friction, every 3 hours; Steam Inhalation, inhalation of
vapor from water with calcium in it. Cold Compress at 600 F. over throat,
changed every 10-20 minutes; Hot Blanket Pack, every 3-4 hours for 15 minutes